Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Tony McKegney (born Anthony Syiid McKegney on February 15, 1958) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, who played in the NHL for 13 seasons from 1978-79 until 1990-91. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? Complete player biography and stats. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. Even now, when I tell the story of the 1987-1988 season, I use a lot of numbers to explain why the season turned out so special. SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. All rights reserved. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. There were five centermen on that team who were great passers, and when you're playing with so many good centermen, you're going to get chances every game. More Tony McKegney videos. Tony played for the Buffalo Sabres for 5 years until June 8, 1983 when he was traded to the Quebec Nordiques along with Andre Savard, Jean-Francois Sauve and Buffalo's third-round choice in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Real Cloutier and Quebec's first-round pick in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? "People just forget me because I didn't play. I was at a Queens University hockey game. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. It's not the 40 goals I scored. (approx 1 - 2 per week). That is a great start and I am looking forward to rooting for the Black players drafted in the past few years who are going to carry on this legacy. They were there for me for the most part. Submit changes (incorrect DOB, missing stats, incorrect stats, social media links etc) using a web form and we will review your update request within 24 hours and update accordingly. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. He got out of his contract, went back to Michigan and started playing for the Kalamazoo Wings, an International Hockey League team, while establishing himself at Upjohn, a pharmaceutical company. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. He paved the way for me. Not a lot from opposing, players, but more so from fans, that they just couldnt handle the fact that the pure white sport, was being dominated by a black kid and that was me. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. For more, check out this Q&A with McKegney & Sportsnet: While its we celebrate the historic achievements of Black players throughout Sabres history, its equally important to celebrate the Black players in the NHL today, including several with current or former ties to the Buffalo Sabres organization. But the homeowner's and the coach's comments were unwelcomed reminders that people were constantly viewing me through the lens of my race -- even when I just wanted to be a home renter, or a hockey player.
Black History Month essay: Tony McKegney | NHL.com Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. But it wasn't to be. The next season, his agent Art Kaminsky told him that must have meant the Nordiques wanted to keep him, so he went into training camp intent on making an impression. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. I was the second to be adopted, McKegney, a St. Louis Blues forward, said of the white family in Sarnia, Ontario, he became part of before he was 1 year old. Youre going to do well in the NHL. I just praised him, knowing that he was a great player and he was going to play in the NHL for a long time. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. He was following in the footsteps of his older brother Ian, who had been a star with the Sarnia Legionnaires before moving on to the pros. I know there werent very many [black players]. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. I didnt talk to many people about it. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. All Rights Reserved. Your existing password has not been changed. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. Saunders says it's tremendous. That year, he also played against a team from Birmingham, Ala. His first game there, team executives told him he might be shot, so he went into the arena with extra protection. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. Comments are welcome while open. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 . I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. Editor's note: As part of the NHL celebrating Black History Month throughout February, NHL.com will present first-person essays by some of the game's key Black players and executives. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. - Improve your search rank "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. You have permission to edit this article. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. It takes time to grow a sport, he says, and now young black kids have something he didn't: the opportunity to play the game they love with people who look like them, and to see more than one black person playing it at the highest level. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. INDIANAPOLIS Along with the change in defensive coordinator with Leslie Frazier deciding to "take a step back," Bills General Manager Brando, The Buffalo Sabres' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker turn Saturday night when the club placed top-line right winge, Frazier, who turns 64 in April, plans to return to coaching in 2024, the Bills said.
Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets Sorry we could not verify that email address. He is 64 years old. There was nothing special about the goal. He was following in the footsteps of his older brother Ian, who had been a star with the Sarnia Legionnaires before moving on to the pros. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals, 77 assists) in 66 games with Kingston of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League in 1976-77 and 92 points (43 goals, 49 assists) in 55 games the following season, when he also played for Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship. They had talks about what to do when the racist taunts would inevitably begin don't react, don't let them get to you but sure enough, when his son was a teenager, in the late '90s, an opponent called him the N-word on the ice. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) SN: When you were playing hockey as youngster, there werent many black faces for you to see when you watched NHL games on Saturday nights. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2023. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. We didn't recognize that password reset code. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. Buy his book. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. I always said that the game is tough enough as it is just trying to survive and make it outside of having that stuff on the sidelines. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. Some may find that number low. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. In this article, we covered Tony McKegney's net worth, wiki, bio, career, height, weight, pics, family, affairs, car, salary, age, facts, and other details in 2022. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. TM: No, not really. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net.
Tony McKegney - Hockey Fights He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. "I got a lot of feedback from people in Canada that they were accepted in the schoolyard or outdoor rink because they could point to me as being a person of color playing in the National Hockey League. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL Why did you feel like that was necessary? However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. Tony McKegney spoke about his experience being one of the few black players in the NHL and how the league has progressed since his playing days. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. Enter your email address to get a new one. by Saunders says Demers is one of the people who taught him the work ethic and discipline that carried him until he lost his enthusiasm for the game. He played in St. Louis for two years. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. NHL 2023. To me, there is no better example of such a player than Tony McKegney, who played 13 seasons in the NHL and was the first star of colour. He signed with the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association, but that news generated a great deal of hate mail, etc., in the South. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, City mourns Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno as investigation into fatal fire launches, Buffalo firefighter makes 'ultimate sacrifice' in blaze that may have sparked backdraft, Paula's Donuts to move Clarence store that faced backlash for tax breaks to Amherst, Vandal damages 'brokenhearted' Russell Salvatore's tribute park in Lancaster, Chad Hall's departure from Buffalo Bills to Jaguars remains a bit of a mystery. I was too timid to talk to a girl. Transaction information may be incomplete. While in Minnesota, Tony played for the organization for 3 years until November 13, 1986 when he was traded to the New York Rangers along with Curt Giles and Minnesota's second-round pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Bob Brooke and Minnesota's fourth-round choice in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.
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